Click-fit or glue down LVT over wet UFH?

6 months ago

Hi, we need to re-lay our floor. We have a wet UFH system installed already, which is made of grooved insulation boards, foil-backed, and pipes installed within (think WundaGroup or Thermrite boards). We will be levelling above these boards, and want to install a floor above.
We currently have laminate herringbone click fit installed, which has failed (multiple reasons). I have spoken to multiple flooring companies, who all say that a glue down floor (LVT, engineered wood) would be best -a lot of them don't tend to install
floating floors in herringbone style because of the issues that are caused with movement.
We are getting quotes and a reputable builder has suggested a click fit LVT as opposed to glue down, as our floor is likely to be imperfect. However, we have had a bad experience with a floating floor
already, and all others advise a glue down system. He is happy to do what we want in the end, and I think he is trying to help us save cost.
I have come across Pro-Tek click fit LVT, which seems decent. However I am still scarred from floating floors above the UFH. I understand LVT won't be subject to as much expansion and contraction as the laminate we currently have, but at this point I dont know what to expect anymore!
Does anyone have any insights, real world stories, or suggestions?

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Comments (3)

Jo Bloggs
6 months ago
We have Wunda UFH the same as you describe. We have tiled floors throughout except for two rooms which have yet to be finished. Have you spoken to Wunda for advice ? They have quite a bit of info on their website which details the appropriate sub floor depending on the finished floor. Sorry I cannot give any more advice.
PRO
Woodfloors4u
4 months ago
last modified: 4 months ago
With flooring issues there can be a number of reasons why a floor fails, which is why the best advice is always to use experienced floor fitters rather than relying solely on a general builder. Builders will often recommend click flooring because it’s quicker and easier to install, but that doesn’t always make it the best solution.

There are situations where click products are the right choice – for example in flats where lease conditions apply, for DIY installations, or developer-led projects. However, in most residential settings glue-down flooring is the better option, provided it’s installed correctly. Ultimately, a lot comes down to the quality of the installation.

Key questions to ask are:
- Were moisture tests carried out before installation?
- Did the subfloor require priming or smoothing?
- Was the LVT properly acclimatised?
- Was the correct adhesive used for the subfloor and conditions?
The list can go on, which is why professional assessment is so important.

At Woodfloors4u, our contracts manager works with a network of independent professional installers across the UK. We also supply glue-down LVT (dryback/ Pank & Herringbone) and SPC (rigid click LVT/ Plank Herringbone and Versailles formats) so we can help advise on the most suitable product for each project. If you have any other questions, please call or email us on: 020 8500 1940/ info@woodfloors4u.oc.uk / www.woodfloors4u.co.uk
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PRO
Flooring365.co.uk
last month
Honestly, given everything you’ve said, I’d lean quite firmly towards glue down LVT in your situation.

You’ve already experienced the downside of a floating floor over UFH, and while LVT is more stable than laminate, it’s still a floating system at the end of the day. With heat cycles,

especially in herringbone, there’s always that risk of movement, gaps, or slight lifting over time.

Glue down is just much more solid. It’s fully bonded to the subfloor, so you don’t get that movement, and it conducts heat better as well, which is a nice bonus with wet UFH.

Your builder isn’t wrong about one thing though, the subfloor needs to be right. Glue down LVT is less forgiving, so the levelling stage is absolutely key. If that’s done properly, smooth, dry, and flat, you’ll get a far better long-term result than any click system.

Click LVT like Pro-Tek can work, and plenty of people do use it over UFH without issues, but in real-world terms, especially for herringbone and over a system like yours, most flooring installers will always favour glue down for a reason.

So in short, if you want the “fit it once and don’t worry about it again” option, go glue down, just make sure whoever is doing the prep takes their time with the levelling.

- Georgia from Flooring365.co.uk

Click-fit or glue down LVT over wet UFH?

Comments (3)

Jo Bloggs

Woodfloors4u

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